John Candy: I Like Me Doc Director Colin Hanks Interview

The late funnyman and actor John Candy was the mascot of laughter and fun in Hollywood comedies before his unexpected death in 1994.

But Colin Hanks , in directing his feature documentary John Candy: I Like Me for Prime Video , discovered Candy’s comedy genius on camera and off masked private struggles like childhood trauma, anxiety and self-esteem issues that he never fully tackled in his own lifetime.

“The truth of the matter is, the very man that we’re celebrating, who was so sweet, so sincere, so caring, so genuine, those are all traits that developed from coping mechanisms,” Hanks tells The Hollywood Reporter as his feature debuts Friday on Prime Video globally.

The late funnyman and actor John Candy was the mascot of laughter and fun in Hollywood comedies before hi